I was interested to see how LX200 owners set up for an evening's viewing. In particular, how you arrange your viewing site and bits and pieces to make it functional and comfortable. Photographs and commentary would be most welcome.

Tonight is the first night since I got my wedge that the weather is looking good. So here is a shot of my rig out on the back deck. I plan to extend the deck to the South (the direction the scope is pointing towards), and then install a 16" concrete pier that will be about 12' tall and go through a hole in the new section. I get to attempt my first polar alignment tonight. Fortunately, Polaris is clearly visible from this location.

I got the same setup as you(but no wedge yet), all photos using digital rebel and lx200gps 10" f/10(yet i use f/6.3 for deep sky stuff). I need some advice doing deep sky stuff(like M27). What camera settings did you use for M42, such as parameters .... contrast / saturation / sharpness / color tone ALSO what ISO setting did you use and the shutter speed. I am having trouble getting any decent photos.

What camera settings did you use for M42, such as parameters .... contrast / saturation / sharpness / color tone ALSO what ISO setting did you use and the shutter speed. I am having trouble getting any decent photos.

Thanks
John

John,

The picture of M42 on my website was taken at ISO 1600 with an exposure time of 30". The white balance was on auto, and it probably would have turned out better with a lower ISO and longer exposure time. That picture was actually taken before I had the wedge, and besides reducing its size, I did not alter it.

I've been having problems getting pictures without severe star trails because of the weight of the Digital Rebel, Scopetronix Maxview DSLR, and eyepiece combination. I've ordered a balance kit from Scope Stuff, so I hope to have more luck soon. Also, I know the drift in the photos isn't caused by a bad polar alignment, because I use the drift method each night maintaining a split star for no less than five minutes.

I'm sure you'll be able to get a much better M42 than the one on my site if you fine-tune the parameters you mentioned. Since taking that picture, I've learned that the correct ISO and exposure time is greatly affected by transparency and light pollution of that particular night. It changes pretty often around here because of all the humidity in the summer air.